Play instinct as the reason?

Orcas sink yacht off the coast of Morocco

Orcas have sunk a sailing yacht near Gibraltar. The two crew members reported muffled blows against the hull, which damaged the hull sheet. Water then entered the boat and the sailors made an emergency call.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning around 26 kilometers off Cape Spartel in Morocco. A helicopter was then launched from Spain and a nearby tanker was asked to come to the aid of the shipwrecked sailors, reported the newspaper "El País." An hour after the distress call, the two sailors were safely taken on board the tanker.

The 15-meter yacht could not be salvaged and sank shortly afterwards. This is the seventh such incident since 2020 (see video above). Researchers studying the animals' behavior believe that the yacht was rammed by orcas, which belong to a group of 37 marine mammals that live between the north of the Iberian Peninsula and the Strait of Gibraltar in the south.

Reaction to a negative experience?
It is not known why the orcas have repeatedly targeted boats since 2020. Researchers speak of "interactions". It is possible that the animals just want to play, but it could also be a reaction to a negative experience with a boat.